Hampshire-based Lucketts Travel has joined an elite group of organisations - including John Lewis, BT and Sainsburys - on an exciting new trial designed to make the roads safer.

The coach firm is one of 30 organisations taking part in the DVSA’s pilot scheme, Earned Recognition, which was launched this week.

DVSA earned recognition for vehicle operators is a new way for organisations with lorries, buses and coaches to prove they meet driver and vehicle standards.

They’ll regularly share performance information with DVSA, such as their MOT initial pass rates and if their drivers have broken drivers’ hours rules.

In return, their vehicles are less likely to be stopped for roadside inspections. DVSA will still stop vehicles if they’re in an obviously dangerous condition.

Lucketts was one of the first companies in the UK to be asked to join the pilot and from today, the company will no longer have to have its vehicles routinely stopped at the roadside by DVSA.

Managing director Tony Lawman said the fact Lucketts was one of the first on the trial is testament to its compliance, safety and engineering record.

“It has been a real privilege to play a part in this exciting trial, almost from its inception,” he said. “It’s been an honour to be asked to do this and I’m pleased that Lucketts is one of the first PCV or HGV operators to be officially accepted. It’s testament to the exacting standards and processes we’ve had in place for many years and how our team have embraced this as a tool to help manage our business.”

DVSA Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said: “DVSA’s priority is to protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles. This pilot is allowing the best operators to go about their business unhindered, so we can target our activity at those most likely to be a danger to all road users.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped us develop the pilot to the point where operators are starting to feel the benefits.”

Keith McNally, Operations Director for the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) said: “CPT supports DVSA in its efforts to encourage improved compliance and reduce the burden on compliant operators. Whilst we recognise that the Earned Recognition Scheme won’t suit every compliant operator, it does have advantages that some operators will be keen to pursue and we are pleased to have been able to work with DVSA on the scheme’s development.”

To find out more about Lucketts and how it maintains all of its coaches in-house visit www.lucketts.co.uk